16 Jan, 2017, Auckland --- In response to demand, AIA Financial Services Network (AIA FSN) has grown its staff number by 75 percent in the last year, appointing 26 new advisors to bring the total number of independent advisors to 60.

With headquarters in Asia and operating solely in the Asia-Pacific region, AIA provides tailored services to New Zealand’s Asian community.

AIA FSN General Manager Andrew Brown says: “We’re delighted to have achieved this level of growth with support from New Zealand’s growing Asian population. Our growth is a reflection of our commitment to providing tailored products and customer service to this market. We pride ourselves on our ability to know our customers and cater to their insurance needs.”

AIA FSN Network General Manager Grace Hong says that most of AIA’s insurance advisors are former immigrants to New Zealand and largely of Asian ethnicity.

“Our advisors have a deep understanding of Asian culture, they speak our customers’ language and, importantly, they understand the challenges facing new migrants – a different language and culture, finding a school, a job and a place to live. It gives AIA a strong market edge,” says Ms Hong.

Languages spoken by advisors include Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Hindi, Thai, Japanese, Korean and Malaysian.

Ms Hong says that AIA FSN is able to offer its customers products tailored for the Asian markets because the business listens to what people want and develops products to suit.

For example, AIA New Zealand successfully introduced a new health policy for the Asian market. The new product allows customers to have their surgery performed overseas, as long as they are diagnosed in New Zealand.

“That’s a big deal for Asians here in New Zealand whose extended family and friends reside in their home country,” says Ms Hong.

Ms Hong says that most clients come back to AIA FSN repeatedly, and many new clients find AIA FSN through referrals.

Mr Brown says the key to maintaining AIA FSN’s growth is to cultivate more managers in the business. “We currently have eight managers and aim to increase that to at least 10 in the year ahead. To help achieve this we provide a clear career path for our people and comprehensive training to give them a thorough understanding of our products and our clients’ needs,” he says.

END​